THE ADIDAS SAMBA A BRIEF HISTORY OF ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC SNEAKERS OF ALL-TIME

HISTORY

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Rooted in sport much like many of adidas’ icons, the Samba’s legend begins with its inception in 1949. Designed by brand founder Adi Dassler, the earliest iteration of the sneaker — which sat at mid-top height and incorporated a kangaroo leather upper as well as a gum sole — was specifically created to provide traction on icy pitches, allowing athletes to train and play atop frozen ground.

Though initially designed with the harsh, European Winter in mind, the Samba would go on to make a grand introduction at the 1950 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. And in an attempt to gain popularity with the South American country, adidas would give the football boot its now canonized name, which draws inspiration from an indigenous Brazilian dance and music genre.

In the decades that followed its above-mentioned debut, the Samba was redesigned several times, inching closer and closer to the version we’re accustomed to today. And in parallel to these changes, the shoe was rapidly transitioning away from the pitch, becoming a favorite amongst players of indoor football.

In the ’90s, skateboarders, too, adopted the indoor staple as one of their own, with many favoring its durability and traction. The sneaker’s popularity would eventually incite adidas to create the Busentiz, a skate-geared offshoot that draws clear design cues from the Samba.

Though still a regular sight on indoor football courts as well as at the skate park, the Samba today leans much closer to the world of fashion. This is thanks to numerous collaborative offerings, which have borrowed the expertise of burgeoning designers such as Wales Bonner. IRAK, Jonah Hill, Have A Good Time, and many other brands and talents have also reimagined the silhouette over the years — and soon, Pharrell, too, will be added to the list.